Vehicle tank construction for filling and dispensing



Jan. 30, 1951 HAGUE 2,539,663

VEHICLE TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR FILLING AND DISPENSING Filed April 10, 1945 Mme-N701? W/7/V588: F y a fly Patented Jan. 30, 1951 VEHICLE TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR FILLING AND DISPENSING Fred Hague, Devon, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 10, 1945, Serial No. 587,471

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a system and apparatus for filling a compartment d rec ptacle, and relates more particularly to the body of a cargo vehicle adapted to transport liquids, such as gasoline. oil. kerosene, or other volatile fluids, and an apparatus in combination th rewith for filling each of the compartments with a predetermined or measured quantity of fluid.

An object of the invention is to provide a system or method of filling a plurality of compartments of a v hicled simultaneouslv so as to a sure the filling of each compartment to its maximum measured capacity.

Another obiect of the invention is to provide, in combina ion with a cargo vehicle tank. apnarat s which will enable each of the compartments to be filled with fluid to their measured maximum capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for filling a vehicled compartmented tank which eliminates the necessity of opening the dome caps or covers of the tank during the filling operation.

Another object of the invention is to enable compartments of a cargo tank to be filled to their maximum ca acity in a more efficient and safe manner than heretofore known.

Still another object of the invention is to enable the compartments of a gasoline cargo truck to be filled to a mea ured capacity in a manner wherein any pos ibility of the gasoline overflowing ther from or otherwise spilling from the tank is eliminated.

Another object of the inv ntion is to provide visual indicating means for determining, during the filling operation, when each of the various com artments of a gasoline cargo truck is filled so'that the supply of gasoline to the various compartments may be shut off after the compartments are filled.

Still another obj ct of the invention is to provide a gasoline transporting truck which may be driven to a loading po ition relative to gasoline storage tanks or the like, after which only two simple conduit connections are made to the tank to enable filling of each compartment Within the tank. simultaneously.

Still another object of the invention is to eliminate the waste of gasoline during the filling operation of a gasoline cargo truck commonly caused by spilling or overloading, and thereby eliminate the hazards of fire and explosion often caused'by such spilling.

The drawings are a schematicview of the in;

vention, showing only the tank,=compartments therein and the apparatus in combination therewith which forms the subject of the present invention.

The general arrangement of the invention resides in a tank having a plurality of compartments therein, wherein each of the compartments is filled to a measured maximum capacity simultaneously by means of a filling manifold, the filling manifold having conduits branching 01f therefrom leading directly to the compartments. As shown in the drawings, it is preferred to fill the compartments from the bottom and, in such event, the filling manifold and conduits branching off therefrom are positioned below the tank.

. A valve is provided, preferably within each compartment, for controlling the supply of fluid from the filling manifold and conduits to the tank. A valve actuating handle is provided for each supply valve to open and close the same, the handle being positioned outside of the tank for easy access thereto. A vertically extending overflow pipe is positioned within each compartment, preferably aligned with the dome caps of the tank. The overflow pipes extend from the bottom of the tank upwardly to a point adjacent the top thereof, and each overflow pipe is provided with a suitable valve, access to the valve being had through the dome caps. An overflow extension is preferably axially ali ned and is in communication with each overflow pipe and these overflow extensions depend from the bottom of the tank. An overflow manifold is positioned on the underside of the tank and is in communication with each of the overflow extensions so that the overflow of fluid from each of the compartments drains by gravity into a single overflow manifold. Suitable sight gauges are positioned in each of the overflow extensions so as to indicate to an operator positioned at the ground level when the desired liquid level in the compartments is attained. The filling manifold and overflow manifold are each provided with suitable couplings adjacent their free ends to enable easy attachment to a fluid supply source and an over flow storage tank.

Referring now in detail to the single figure of the drawings which illustrates my improved vehicle tank construction in sectional elevation, reference numeral It) generally indicates the tank of a gasoline truck, the tank l0 being mounted upon the chassis of the truck or other suitable su pension arrangement (not shownl in any suitable manner.

The tank 50 may be con sidered to be elliptical in cross section and formed o'iflend walls 11. and 12 which are connected-by 3 elliptical shell I3. A plurality of partitions I4 divide the tank I into a plurality of compartments I5, I6 and IT, as shown. The tank I0 may, of course, take any desired shape and the compartments formed therein may be of different capacities.

A filling manifold is indicated at 20, and is provided with a suitable coupling 2| adjacent one end for connection to a source of supply and lengthwise thereof are a plurality of branch conduits 23, 24 and 25 for filling the respective compartments. The branch conduit or pipe 23 extends upwardly and is permanently secured to the underside of the elliptical shell l3 by a coupling 21 to be in communication with the compartment through an aperture in the shell I3. The conduits 24 and 25 are also secured to the underside of the shell I3 by couplings 28 and 29 to be in communication with compartments I6 and I? respectively. Thus, fluid communication is provided from manifold 28 into each of the compartments of the tank ll]. Suitable supply valves 30, Si and 32 are positioned within compartments 55, I and Il respectively, and control the delivery of fluid from the filling manifold 28 to the respective compartments. The supply valves 30, 3i and 32 may be actuated by any desirable means but, as indicated, actuating rods 33, 34 and 35 are used which extend upwardly of the compartments being secured at 36 to handles or fulcrum type levers 3l, 38 and 39. These handles are positioned beyond the top wall I3 of the tank I!) preferably adjacent to the dome covers 4!, 42 and 43, and may be operated by hand or if preferred, they may be operated at ground level by a cable control located below the top of the tank. Assuming that the capacity of the compartments IS, IS and I7 vary, or that constructional arrangements demand such procedure, it may be preferred to vary the diameter of the filling conduits 23, 24 and 25 accordingly, so that each compartment will be filled to capacity substantially simul-- taneously. However, this function may be accomplished by varying the capacity of the supply valves 353, 3! and 32. if desired.

Overflow pipes 45, 4 5 and 47 are positioned within the compartments I5, I6 and Il respec tively and each extends vertically of its compartment with its lower end secured in an aperture in the bottom of shell l3 by means of a coupling 48, as shown, and its upper open end positioned adjacent the top of the compartment. Suitable valves 49, 59 and 5! are provided respectively for the open end of pipes 45, 46 and 4! and actuating handles 52, 53 and 54 or other means, mechanically or hydraulically operated, may be used for actuating the overflow valves. Overflow extensions 55, 55 and 51 are aligned respectively with the overflow pipes 45, 46 and 41 by the sealing couplings 43. Sight gauges 68, 6| and 62 are fitted to the overflow extensions 55, 56 and 51 respectively in order to visually indicate the flow of fluid from the overflow pipes. An overflow manifold 65 is placed in communication with the lower end of each of the overflow extensions to drain the fluid therefrom and a suitable coupling 65 issecured adjacent the open end of the over flow manifold 65 for connection to a disposal receptacle.

In operation, the truck (not shown) is driven to a loading position relative to storage tanks (not shown). A hose or the like from a storage source is connected to the filling manifold 26 through coupling 2|. Thereafter, the overflow manifold 65 is connected to an overflow storage chamber. It will be understood, of course, that if the storage tanks are above ground fluid will flow into the filling manifold 25 by gravity and the overflow fluid from overflow manifold 65 would flow to a storage tank placed on or below the ground by gravity. On the other hand, if the storage tanks are positioned underneath the ground, fluid will be pumped therefrom-into the filling manifold 20, and in such event, the fluid from the overflow manifold 65 may drain back into the storage tank. The overflow valves 49, 50 and EI are then actuated to the open position as are also the supply valves 35, 3| and 32. After these valves are opened liquid is admitted through the coupling 2| into manifold 25 and thence in the direction of the arrows and upwardly into the filling conduits or pipes 23, 24 and 25 and thus into each of the compartments I5, I6 and I7. Dome caps 4}, 42 and 43 are suitably vented for pressure and vacuum so that unless desired it will not be-necessary to open them during filling or dispensing operations. The flow of fluid into the compartments continues until the fluid rises to substantially the top of each compartment. After the fluid rises above each of the overflow valves 49, 50 and 5 I, fluid will then overflow through the valves into the overflow pipes 45, and 4?, and through the sight gauges 60, 6! and 62 respectively. Assuming now that compartment I5 is the smallest compartment; the same may be filled a little sooner than the other compartments and fluid would then be seen in sight gauge fill, thus indicating to the operator that compartment I5 has been filled to capacity. Valve 38 is then closed to prevent additional fluid from entering this compartment and, also, to prevent fluid from draining by that valve fromsaid compartment when the pressure has been relieved from the filling manifold 25. If compartment I! is intermediate in ca acity, fluid would next be seen in sight gauge 62 thus indicating that compartment I! has been filled. Thereupon, the operator closes valve 32 to prevent additional fluid from being supplied to the compartment and, likewise preventing the fluid from leaving the compartment. Soon thereafter, fluid will be seen in sight gauge 6|, indicating that compartment IE has been filled, after which the valve 3| would be closed. The fluid draining through the overflow extensions 55, 5'5 and 51 will drain into the overflow manifold 65 by gravity and then to storage tank (not shown). Thereafter, the pressure from the source of supply would be cut off, after which the couplings 2! and 56 may be actuated to uncouple the tank I!) from the storage tanks. Overflow valves 49, and 5! are then closed through their actuating handles or mechanisms 52, 53 and 54 respectively, so as to prevent any spilling of the fluid into or through the overflow pipes when the vehicle is in motion, thus maintaining a correct and predetermined liquid level in each and all compartments. After the overflow valves have been properly closed the vehicle is then ready to transport its liquid load.

While the filling manifold and conduits have been illustrated and described as being positioned on the underside of the compartments, it will be understood, of course, that the filling manifold may be positioned elsewhere, such as on top of the tank or on either side thereof since the broad feature of the invention is to indicate to' an operator when a tank or compartment thereof is filled to the desired extent without thenecessity ofg'hischecking the liquid level. It is an essential feature of the invention, however, that the sight gauges or visual indicating means be positioned at the bottom of the tank so that an operator can readily determine from the ground level when the tank or compartments thereof are properly filled.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A liquid dispensing apparatus adapted for moving vehicles which comprises an enclosed tank body, partitions extending across the tank body providing a plurality of independent compartments therein of substantially equal volume, an inlet manifold beneath said tank body for supplying liquid to all the compartments simultaneously, an outlet manifold positioned beneath said tank body in spaced relation therewith, an overflow conduit in each compartment, the upper ends of the overflow conduits being positioned at substantially the same level and in slightly spaced relation with the top of each compartment, and the lower end of each of the overflow conduits opening through the bottom of the respective compartments, a connecting conduit between the lcwer end of each overflow conduit and said outlet manifold, means on each of said connecting conduits for indicating flow of liquid therethrough when each compartment is substantially filled and independent valve means between the inlet manifold and each compartment for cutting off the supply of liquid to each compartment when liquid fiows therefrom through its overflow conduit.

FRED HAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Krone Sept. 11, 1945 

